Tractor



1. M. DENNINGB TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Qjbjenhmllemijg J. M. DENNING.

, TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- I0, 1920- Reissfled July 25, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- '1. M. DENNING.

TRACTOR.

. APPLICATION FHIED JAN-10, I920- Reissued July 25, 1922. v v 15 ,420.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH m. DENNING, or DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

'IO GENERAL ORDNANCE NEW YORK.

CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF I TRACTOR.

v Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Rgi s d J 1 '25 1922 Original No. 1,207,875, datedvDecember 12, 1916, Serial No. 49,099, filed September 4, 1915. Application for reissue filed January To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that. I, JOSEPH M. DENNING, a. citizen of the United States, residingat Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and invention, an

the following is a full, clear, concise,

of which and exbeing had to the forming a part of useful Improvements in Tractors,

act description, reference accompanying drawmgs, this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tractors, and one of the objects of the invention is to simplify the construction of the driving mechanism and to provide improved means whereb the driving power is applied to the wheel rims, thereby relieving the hubs and spokes of the wheels from all driving strain.

A further object is structure of this character and whereby all connection or ke fastenings between the wheel and gear s afts and associated parts are dispensed with, thereby rendering it possible to remove the shafts independently of and without dismantling the other parts,

Heretofore it has been common practice to i drive the tractor wheels by means of gears built in the tractor wheels and which gears are driven by pinions on the outer end of the jack shaft. The gears the traction wheels renders it impossible to protect them from the dirt'and grit that is stirred up by the traction wheels, and in order to overcome these objections and difficulties, the gears in the present invention are placed in such a position where they may be covered and protected from the dirt and rit.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of othernew and useful objects as willappear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed andshown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating the in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved tractor of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this inventionand with parts removed;

being arranged in 'tling any of the parts,

10, 1920. Serial no. 350,674.

tion and partly in longitudinal section and as taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure, 3 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing the manner of shiftingthe friction disks;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the differential gearing and brake drum;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line '55 of Figure 4; v

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on lin'e6-6 of Figure 1 and showing the 'manner of applying power to the traction wheels Figure Fi ure 6 and iigure 8 is a front elevation of the steer- I ingpnechanism. to provide an improved h eferring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate the side members and 12, 13 the end members of a supporting frame, which may be of any desired size and configuration and constructed of any suitable material, and this frame is itself supported bytraction wheels 1 1located at the rear end thereof and the steel ing wheels 15 at the forward end. These traction wheels are rotatably supported upon a shaft 16, about which the hubs 17 of thewheels'rotate', and sleeves 18 are also rotatable about the shaft 16. Connected with and extending laterally beyond each of the sleeves 18 are arms 19, and these arms are bolted to braces or cross bars 20, which latter are securedto the rims of the respective I wheels 14. Secured to each of the sleeves 18 is a gear 21, which may be of any desired size, and these gears as well as the sleeves 18, are held spaced from each other by means of a spreader 22, preferably in the form of a sleeve which is detached from the gears and which also rotates about the shaft 16. The traction wheels are secured to the frame of the structure by means of suitable bearings, (not shown) and in which bearings the sleeves 18 rotate.

The shaft 16 is a full floating shaft and is adapted to be removed or inserted into the hubs 17 and sleeves 18, 22, without dismanthe shaft serving the With this purpose of alining these parts.

7 is a view taken online 7--7 of sired to remove the ating jaws 32, mesh.

construction it will be manifest that when,

power is applied to the gears 21 to rotate the traction wheels 14, the driving strain will be applied directly to the rims of the wheelsand With the resultthat the hub 17' of the invention, caps 23 are provided which have detachable engagement with the outer faces of the hubs 17, so that when it is deshaft 16, for any purpose, all thfltlS necessary is to remove the caps 23. Withthisconstruction' it will also be manifest that all connections in the way of keys or fastening devices between the traction wheels'and theshaft 16 are dispensed with, thereby materially lessening the cost of manufacture and facilitating the assembling ofathe parts. i

The differential gearing which drives the gears 21, constitutes the subject matter of :a separate application, but is here specifically described and more clearly shown n Figure 4 for the purpose of conveying a full and clear understanding of the operation of'the machine. This gearing is mounted upon a shaft124, commonly known as a jack shaft and'the gearing preferably comprises a ring gear 25, and constitutes the driving member. his ring gear is secured ,to a Spider 26, also rotatably supported by the sh-aft 24. Rotatably supported by the spider 26 are a plurality of bevel pinions 27, preferably four in number, which rotate with the spider about the shaft 24, and also independently with respect to the spider on an axi arranged transversely to the axis ofrotation of the spider. These bevel pinions 27 mesh with bevel gears 28, 29 arranged on each side ofthe spider 26 and rotate about the shaft 24. Each of .the gears 28, 29 is "provided with jaws 30, 31 on their outer faces of their hubs, and with which jaws, ,co-o-per- 33 carried by pinions 34, 35 These pinions :34, 35 are also rotatably supported by (the shaft 24 and the jaws on the pinions are held in contact with the jaws on the bevel ears by means of the walls 36, 37 of the gear casing 38 The pinions 34, 35 respectively mesh with one ofthe gears 21, and which'lattergears 21 are independentiof each other. The shaft 24 is held against longitudinal displacement in any suitable manner preferably by means of caps38, which are securedto the bearings gear casing 38 willbe rendering it possible to lubrication in Which theirespective surfaces 41, 42, -of-each of the bands is anchored by means of The gear 28 is provided with a flange 41 and-the gear 29 is provided with a flange 42, the peripheries of which are preferably ar ranged in line with the bottom of the teeth ofthe-respecti-ve gears and form brakedrums of which a brake band 43- ex tends. These bands preferably encompass and one end around @each an anchoring device 44, secured to a fixed support while the other end of each of the bands is connected with an arm 45 on a treadle 46, the latter being pivotally connected by means of a shaft 47, mounted in suitable bearings 48 secured to the supporting structure and preferably above the shaft 16, so that by the operation of one or the other of the treadles 46, the brake will be applied .to the respective gears 28, 29 to assist in steering the ma'chine, in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. l

Meshing with the gear 25 is another gear 49, which is connected with a shaft50, ro-

tating in suitable bearings 51, and secured .to

this shaft is a gear 52, which latter is preferably located outside ofthe gear casing '38, while the gear 49 is located within the gear casing. i

The gear 52'is rotatedby means of a gear 53 secured ,to a shaft 54 and connected with which shaft 54 are two'friction drive members 55, 56 which are opposed .to each other, and disposedbetween the element ,55, 56 is a friction wheel 57, the latter being secured to a shaft 58, which in turn is secured iniany suitable manner to the shaft 59 of the motor 60. The free end of. the shaft 58 is rotatably supported in a suitablebearing 61 sup porten preferably by meansof an upright 62, the latter'being in turn'supported upon a sub-frame, preferably comprising spaced members 63, supported by cross members64, 65, the latter frame. The cross member 65 is preferably disposed lower than the respect to the main frameand arranged be tween the member 65 and'the member 63 66. This cross member 65 with the friction element 57, as is well known. y

The shifting movement of the vdisks 55, 56 may be accomplished in any desired or suitable manner. The specific construction of the disk shifting means constitutes the subject matter of a separate application, but

member 64 with 7 "being secured to the main is here described and shown more clearly in F i re 3, for the purpose of giving a full an clear understanding of the operation of the machine.

The shaft 54 is rotatably supported in the bearings 67 and is also adapted to be shifted longitudinally in said bearings, so as to move one of the disks 55, 56 into engagement withv the element 57, and the other out of engagement therewith.

A bell crank lever 68 is pivotally suported as at 69 upon a suitablesupport 70, the latter preferably being supported by the sub-frame, and the arm 71 of the bell crank is preferably bifurcated so as to stand astride of the member 72 of a roller bearing which is connected with the shaft 54. This roller bearin preferabl comprises spaced members 73 etween wiich the rollers 74 are arranged-and one of the members 73 contacts with a collar 75 secured to the shaft 54, while the other member 73 contacts with a collar 76 secured to the shaft so that when the bell crank lever 68 is rocked in one direction to correspondingly shift the shaft 54, the respective member 73 will enage its collar on the shaft 54 to shift the atter, and when moved in the opposite direction friction will be created between the other member 7 3 and the respective collar.

The width of the gears 52, 53 is such withrespect to each other that they will always remain in mesh during the shifting of the disks 55, 56. Connected with the other arm of the bell crank lever 68 is an operating rod or bar 77, and this bar in turn is connected with a shifting lever 78, preferably loosely mounted upon the shaft 47, the lever being provided with the ordinary pawl 79 .and ratchet segment 80. The bar 77 has engagement with the lever 78 and a slidin hrough a tubular element 81, which passes t latter abuts a spring 82 and-the spring in turn abuts a collar 83 fast on the rod 77, a stop nut 84 being also connected with the rod on the opposite side of the lever 78. Thus when the lever 78 is rocked, for instance, in a forwardly direction with re spect to Figure 1, the tubular member 81 will force the spring 82 against the shoulder 83 on the rod 77 and the latter will be moved to shift the bell crank lever 68 about its pivot to move the shaft 54 in one direction and with respect to the disks 55, 56. The spring 82 is provided for the purpose of permitting an even pressure of the disks 55, 56 against the friction driving element 57. When it is desired to shift the shaft 54 in the opposite direction, 'the'lever 78 is correspondmgly moved as will be understood.

The speed of the machine is controlled by the position of the friction driving element 57 with respect to the axis of rotation of the disks 55, 56 and, in order to thus vary the position of this element 57 with respect thereto, it is adapted to be shifted longitudinally on its shaft 58. This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the element 57 has a sliding engagement with respect to the shaft, and a rod 85 is provided for this purpose. This rod is connected at one end with a shifting lever 86 having a dog 87 connected therewith which co-operates with a ratchet segment 88. The other end of the rod 85 is provided with the usual yoke construction, the arms of which engage in a grooved portion 89 in the hub of the driving element 57, so that the position ofthe element 57 with respect to the disks 55, 56 may be controlled at the will of the operator by shifting the lever 86;

The steering mechanism for the front wheels constitutes the subject matter of a separate application but is here shown and described in order to convey a full and clear understanding of the complete machine and the operation thereof.

The steering wheels 15 are pivotally connected with the forward end of the supporting structure, preferably by means of the bearings 90 in which the axles of the wheels rotate and these bearings 90 are pivotally connected as at 91 preferably to extensions 92, on the front bar 13, so that the bearings will 'move on upright pivots. The bearings are provided with extensions 93, which are preferably bent forwardly with respect to the bearing and to the wheels. Pivotally connected to a member 94, secured to the main frame and inter-- mediate its ends as at 95, is a bar or rod 96, which arranged parallel with the bar 13 and mounted upon this bar 96 and each of the extensions 93 is a link 97, each link being pivotally connected to the respective extensions 93 and the bar 96. When the bar 96 is moved about its pivot, preferably by means of a rod 98 which is connected thereto, the wheels 15 will be moved about their pivots. For steering the machine and by the provision of the forwardly bent portions 93, it is possible to give a shorter angle to the wheel taking the inside circle when turning on an angle than heretofore. These wheels when straight are both on the same forward line but when turned to the left or to the right, the wheel power to the right in conformity to the turn the parts ofthe rod connection would assume positions practically on the center line with the pivotal parts of the knuckles and would look so that the wheels could not be .brought'back into position. In the present invention, the connection with the wheels between the pivot 91 and thepivot 95 is in the nature ofa toggle lever so that the outer ends of the pivotal bar when swung out. of a center line, swing toward'the center of the axle and thus carry the end of the connecting rods in toward the center of the axle so that in drawing the wheels back straight, the pull will be on a more direct right angle line with the inner end of the aXlespind-le, without pulling against the axis of the axle, as would be the case if the rods were on a straight line in the machine, and also because the rod pulls practically sidewise rather than pull back on a substantially straight line with the machine.

The rod 98 may be shifted in any suitable manner preferably from a steering post 99 arranged in a convenient position for the operator and which post is connected 1n any suitable manner such as by meansof a worm gear connection" (not shown) with a rock shaft 100, and to which shaft is connected an arm 101 which in turn is connected with the rod 98.

The brake bands 43 andthe surfaces 4 1, 42 of-the respective gears 28, 29 with which the *bands cooperate, work independently of each other, and they in turn co-operate with the steering mechanism just described, in making short turns.

When the front wheels are turned at a short angle, they would slide considerably with respect to the ground, as a result of the forward push of the tractor, if some means were not provided for helping the wheel to make the turn. It is therefore for' this purpose that the two independent brakes are used. If the front wheels are turned shortly to the right, the right hand foot brake isa-pplied, so as to brake the right hand side of the differential. .This will throw more of the power to the left hand side of the differential, thus applying more left hand steering wheel which helps to throw the tractor around to the of the front wheels.

While the preferred form of construction has been herein shown and described, it is: to be understood that many changes may be made in the details thereof, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the-like, embodying a traction wheel, an axle upon which the wheel is loosely mounted, a

driven element separate from the wheel and disposed adjacent the axis of the wheel, rigidly acting means connecting the sald elementwith. the rim of the wheel, a casing having an opening in which said driven ele- -ment fits and through which it passes, .a

driving element fitting in and passin ,g, through another opemng in said casing, and means within said casing ,COIIDGCtlIlg said driven and, driving elements whereby the former is responsive to theimovement' of the latter, said means including a differential and reduction gearing between said differential and said driven element.

Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, a

driven element separate from the wheeLand,

arranged adjacent the hub of the wheel, a casing having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element fitting in and pass ing through another open-ingin said casing, means within said casing connecting said other than the hub and rigidly acting spokes of the wheel for imparting themovement of the said driven element directly to the rim of the wheel.

3. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, a shaft upon which the wheel is loosely mounted, :a

driven element also loosely mounted upon the shaft, means .o-therthan .the'ihub spokes vof the wheel directly connectingthe driven element with therim .of the wheehaa driven gear secured directly tosaid driven element, a differential and reduction gears mg operatively connecting said -.difie1;ential and said driven gear.-

1. Propelling mechanism for tractors, em-

bodying a traction wheel, a shaft upon which the wheel is rotatably supported, .a driven element separatefrom the wheel, and also rotatably supported upon the shaft, means for rotating said'element upon the shaft, and means projecting from the saidelement, and secured to the rim of the wheel for retating the wheel, said shaft being adapted to be removed or placed in position while the remaining parts are assembled;

5. Propelling mechanism. for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, a driven element separate from the wheel and arranged adjacent the hub of :Ithe wheel, a.

closed oiltight casing having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which it asses, adriv-ing element fittingin and passing'through another opening in said casing, said driven and driving elements acting to support said casing, means" within said casing connecting said driven and drlvmg elements whereby the/former is responsive to themovement of the latter, and means other than the hub and spokes of thejwheel for imparting the movement of the said driven element directlyto the rim ing elements whereby the former is responof the wheel.

6. Propelling mechanism. for tractors and the like, embodying a pair of traction wheels, a driven element for each wheel separate therefrom and arranged on the same axis adjacent the hubof the wheel, a casing havrectl i to the rims of the respective wheels.

ropelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, a driven element separate from the wheel, a casing having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which its passes, a driving element fitting in and passing through another opening in said casing, said driven and driving elements acting to support said casing, gearing; within said casing operatively connecting said driven and driving elements whereby the former is responsive to the movement of the latter, and means other than the hub and spokes of the wheels for imparting the movement of the said driven element directly to the rim of the wheel.

8. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, an axle upon which the wheel is loosely mounted, a driven element separate from the wheel and disposed adjacent the axis of the wheel, means connecting the said element with the rim of the wheel, a casing having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element fitting in and passing through another opening in said casing, said driven and driving elements acting to support said casing, and gearing within said casing operatively conmeeting said driven and driving elements whereby the former is responsive to the movement of the latter. v

9. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a rigid main frame, an engine rigidly mounted on said frame, a traction wheel, a driven element separate from the wheel and arranged adjacent the hub of the wheel and journalled upon said frame, a casing stationary relative to said frame having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element drivenby said engine and fitting in and passing through another opening in said casing, means within said casing connecting said driven and drivsive to the movement of the latter, and

means other than the hub and spokes of the wheel for imparting thecmovement of the said driven element directly to the rim of the wheel, v

* 10. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a rigid main frame, an engine rigidly mounted on said frame, a traction wheel, a driven element separate from the wheel and arranged'adjacent the hub of the wheel and journalled upon said frame, a casing stationary relative to said frame having an opening in which said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element driven by said engine and journalled on said mainframe and fitting in and passing through another opening in said casing, means within said casing connectlng sald driven and drlvlng elements whereby the former is responsive to the movement of the latter, and means other than the hub and spokes of the wheel for imparting the movement of the said driven element directly to the rim of the "wheel.

11. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction wheel, a shaft upon which the wheel is loosely mounted, a driven element also loosely mounted upon the shaft, means other than the hub and spokes of the wheel directly connecting the driven element with the rim of the wheel, a driven gear secured directly to said driven element, differential gearing, a pinion connected with said differential gearing and meshing with'said driven gear to form reduction gearing, a driving gear operatively applied to said differential gearing, and a common casing surrounding said gears and gearing.

12. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a pair of traction wheels, an axle common to both wheels and on which the same are loosely mounted, a pair of driven elements separate from the wheels and disposed adjacent the axes of the wheels, means connecting said elements with the rims of said wheels, said wheels and driven elements forming a symmetrical structure, a

casing having openings in which said driven 7 elements fit and through which the same pass, gears carried by said driven elements and arranged within said casing, a differential mechanism also wholly within said casing, and pinions operating with said differential mechanism and meshing respectively with said gears.

I 13. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying a traction'wheel, an axle upon which the wheel is loosely mounted, a. driven element separate from the wheel and disposed adjacent the axis of the wheel, means connecting the said element with the riin of the heel, aeasing' having an opening" in' which said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element fitting in and passing'through another open ing "in said casing, said driven and driving elements'aoting to support said easing, and

' means ithin said casing connecting said driven element fits and through which it passes, a driving element fitting in and: passing through another opening in said casing, said driven and driving elements acting to en rt said casin means Within said cue-- ing connecting said driven and driving ele ments whereby the former is responsive to the movementof the latter, and Ineansother than the huband spokes of the wheel for'imparting'the movement of the said driven element directly to the rim ofthe Wheel.

Inwitness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of- January'1920:

JO EPH- M. DENNINGL, 

